AU vs. Duke

Should I go to American University or Duke University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if AU or Duke is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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American University vs. Duke University comparison
American University Duke University College 3 College 4
American University Duke University
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Overview

 AU Duke
Location Washington, DC Durham, NC
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 13,885 18,023
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #93 #3
Religious Affiliation United Methodist United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website american.edu duke.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 AU Duke
Tuition (In State) $53,070 $60,435
Tuition (Out of State) $53,070 $60,435
Room & Board $15,706 $16,651
Avg Net Price $41,369 $23,694
Avg Grant Aid $27,138 $57,444
% Receiving Grant Aid 66% 42%

Admission

 AU Duke
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 19,510 50,016
Admitted 7,926 3,174
Acceptance Rate 40.6% 6.3%
Enrolled % 22.2% 55%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.94
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Elite
Applicant Competition Low Extreme
ACT Range 29/32 34/35
SAT Range 1290/1430 1490/1570
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025 Jan 3, 2025

Academics

 AU Duke
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 6:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (43%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Social Sciences (24%)
  • Engineering (16%)
  • Human Services (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

 AU Duke
Graduation Rate 77% 94%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $64,800 $108,900
Making Student Loan Payments 80% 89%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,250 $7,500
Median Loan Payment $250 $77

Diversity

 AU Duke
% Men 37% 45%
% Women 63% 55%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 58% 46%
% Black 7% 10%
% Hispanic 12% 7%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 7% 10%
% Unknown Race 4% 2%

Students

 AU Duke
% In-State 2% 12%
% Out-of-State 94% 74%

Campus

 AU Duke
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Duke University is larger than than AU based on total student enrollment (18,023 students vs. 13,885 students)

AU vs. Duke Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AU or Duke?

  • Duke University is 13.9% more expensive to attend than AU for in-state tuition ($60,435.00 vs. $53,070.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 13.9% higher at Duke than American University ($60,435.00 vs. $53,070.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Duke University than AU ($23,694 vs. $41,369)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American University are 6% lower than costs at Duke University ($15,706 vs. $16,651)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at American University than Duke University (66% vs. 42%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Duke University students is 111.7% larger than aid received American University ($57,444 vs. $27,138)

AU vs. Duke Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AU or Duke? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Duke or AU .

  • The average SAT score at Duke University (1450) is 198 points higher than at AU (1252)
  • Incoming Duke students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at AU (28)
  • Accepted freshman Duke students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at AU (3.7)
  • AU has a higher acceptance rate (40.6%) than Duke (6.3%)

AU vs. Duke Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, AU or Duke? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Duke and AU.

  • The graduation rate at Duke is higher than American University (94% vs. 77%)
  • Graduates from Duke University earn on average $44,100 more per year than AU graduates after ten years. ($108,900 vs. $64,800)
  • Duke University students graduate with a $16,750 lower median federal student loan debt than AU graduates. ($7,500 vs. $24,250)
  • Duke graduates are paying $173 less per month on federal student loans than AU graduates. ($77 vs. $250)
  • More Duke graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AU students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 80%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/